Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein derived from whole blood. It is extremely rich in growth factors and cytokines, which regulate tissue reconstruction. PRP has been used to encourage healing of various soft tissues in the human body as well as to assist in surgical wound healing.
Researchers in Taiwan conducted a novel study to determine if PRP could indeed help bladder healing in patients with IC. They enrolled 34 patients with IC/BPS in the study, to receive four monthly intravesical injections of 12 mL PRP extracted from 50 mL of the patient’s whole blood. The primary end-point is the symptoms assessed using the O’Leary-Sant symptom (OSS), the IC symptom index (ICSI), and IC problem index (ICPI) scores at 1 month after the 4th PRP injection. The pain score was reported by self- assessment using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) system. Daily fre- quency, nocturia, functional bladder capacity (FBC), cystometric bladder capacity (CBC), maximum flow rate, voided volume, post-void residual volume and global response assess- ment (GRA) were also recorded.
Of the 34 patients (31 women and 3 men), 21 of them (others ongoing) completed the four injections and the follow-up visits. Their mean age was 53.8±12.3 years. OSS, ICSI, ICPI and VAS significantly decreased and fre- quency and nocturia showed signifi- cant improvement. Other urody- namic parameters did not show sig- nificant change at one month follow- up.
The results show that repeated intravesical PRP injection is a possible effective treatment for medically refractory IC/BPS and provides sig- nificant symptom relief. PRP injec- tion is well tolerated and appears to be a safe and effective treatment to improve IC symptoms and urinary frequency.
Source: Shu-Yu W, et al. MP39-14 THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF PLATELET-RICH-PLASMA INTRAVES- ICAL REPEAT INJECTIONS FOR INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/BLADDER PAIN SYNDROME REFRACTORY TO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
